By Uriah Kiser
Dumfries, Va. — Over the next eight months, Dumfries aims to revitalize the town’s older commercial neighborhoods, connect more visitors with its waterfront, and attract new businesses.
Officials there are working to create a new Economic Development Plan for Virginia’s oldest continuously charted town. The plan, which will serve as one of the guides to what type of new development will be welcomed in the town, is a work in progress,.
The plan’s production timeline – which begins in earnest about the middle of next month and should wrap up in September – has been described as a “moving target.” But the goals of the plan are clear: bring jobs, promote the town as a destination, redevelop old commercial neighborhoods along Main Street / Fraley Boulevard (U.S. 1), and make the area along Quantico Creek a more desirable place to be.
“If it wasn’t for the Port of Dumfries, Prince William County wouldn’t have made it on to the map. So we’re trying to tie our past to our future, and for us it’s the waterfront,” said Dumfries Director of Community and Economic Development Debi Sandlin.
At its height in the mid-1700s, The Port of Dumfries rivaled that of New York City and Boston’s ports, but saw a decline when tobacco became less of a shipping commodity.
Today, Sandlin is using a mix of social media and old-fashioned face to face meetings to connect with business leaders to promote the town. She hopes to attract a mix of government agencies and associated contracting firms, as well as tech firms. With its proximity to Quantico Marine Corps Base, officials say Dumfries is a perfect fit.
It hasn’t always been easy for the town, as its government leaders have not always had a reputation of getting along. And traffic along busy U.S. 1 is known to crawl during afternoon rush hours, prompting town residents for years to ask for the road to be widened.
Despite evening commuter traffic on its main street, more companies are moving into the town.
An office building that has sat empty for years is being built out and will soon fill up with employees who work for a company called “Lead 2 Succeed,” said Sandlin. When it opens, office space in the town will be limited, but there is hope that with a renewed interest in the town, new companies will build here. And when they do, subsequent development like services and retail stores will also return to Dumfries.
“Most companies want to rent spaces of about 2,500 to 3,000 square feet to get the best return on their investment, and we don’t have that right now,” said Sandlin.
Some companies interested in the town have previously asked for more office space than what’s available. That’s when Sandlin picks up the phone and calls an economic development colleagues in Prince William County to hand over a potential lead.
“Prince William County is a collaborative partner with the town. They are a great resource we tap into all of the time and provide us with access to staff with expertise in various areas, including serving on town committees,” said Sandlin.
While Prince William County in recent years has not been known for its commercial growth and boasts Walmart as its number one employer, Neighboring Stafford County has attracted many government contractors to the area. Whether it is Prince William, Stafford or Dumfries, the challenge remains: “We’re all competing for the same slice of the pie,” said Sandlin.
Economic Development Plan Timeline
February — Stakeholder survey mailed
March – Stakeholder surveys returned, focus groups begin to identify development goals
April – May – Draft new plan
June – Present new plan to Town Council for input
September – Town Council to decide whether or not to adopt plan
*This story has been corrected
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